Check your list twice, right here at home

I have been on a secret mission for the past couple of weeks.

I, like all of you, have been watching the toll the pandemic has been taking on local, small businesses.

Many of them are struggling to keep their doors open as more people are staying home or choosing to shop online.

And there could not be a worse time for this to happen.

These last two months of the year are critical for businesses — especially family-owned enterprises. This is when they make the bulk of their profit as families head out to shop, to drink and to enjoy the Christmas holidays.

That traffic is just not there right now.

I have been wondering just how I was going to do my holiday shopping this year.

I am one of those people who enjoys the hunt, searching for just the right gift. I like to touch them, to sort through them and to choose the best one. It matters to me if the stuffed elephant’s expression is just right or the crystal bell has the perfect ring. It is part of the fun.

Ordering online is easier. It comes right to the door with the click of a mouse.

But it just doesn’t seem like Christmas.

So I decided that this year, I was going to put my money where my mouth is.

I was going to shop local.

So I headed out to see what I could find right here in Wayne County.

I did not tell anyone who I was or that I was writing anything for the New Old North.

I wanted to have a real customer experience.

And let me cut to the chase — I had a great one.

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Every place I went, I met a shopkeeper or clerk who was smiling, welcoming and ready to help.

I was surprised at the quality and selection of the merchandise in their stores, and I could also tell that they had taken great pains to make the shopping experience pleasant and easy.

Not one time did I have to hunt down someone to help me or wait to have a question answered.

I had some wonderful conversations — and more than a few laughs. And I met a few people I would like to talk to again.

I imagine that my experience was much the same as it was in the olden days, when shopkeepers knew their community. I wasn’t a number in their stores.

They did not know me or why I was there. That’s what made the experience so special.

Small businesses might be facing struggles, but they have not forgotten how to treat their customers.

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I found something at every single store — a gift I would not have discovered anywhere else.

My family is notoriously hard to buy for — they don’t want for much and what they need, they buy.

I was looking for the unusual — and I found it.

My shopping list includes my brother and his wife, both in their early 50s, my 90-year-old father and my 8-year-old niece and 10-year-old nephew. And then there is my husband. I also have some brothers and sisters-in-law, other older nieces and nephews — also difficult to surprise.

And then there is my pride and joy, my 10-year-old rescue pup, Beau. He is my heart.

I found meaningful and fun gifts for every one of them. (Spoiler alert: Beau got a collar with a little bow tie to wear for Christmas.) I can’t wait to see their faces when they open them on Christmas morning.

And believe it or not, I stayed within my budget — although I splurged a couple of times.

But isn’t that what this holiday is all about?

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I visited a lot of stores — many downtown and a few outside Goldsboro.

Some of the storefronts were just beautiful — lovely decorations and an atmosphere that made me want to head back home to spruce up my own house.

I took pictures and jotted down ideas as I looked for special items for my family.

Because of the sheer number of places I visited, I had to keep a record of where I had been and some of the items I saw. I tried to think about all of you and what you might need for your own holiday lists.

I can’t go over all of them, but I will include a few highlights.

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I wasn’t sure what I would find at Bicycle World and The Outdoor Shoppe.

I knew about the bicycles and skateboards, of course, but what I did not expect was the large amount of high-end clothing to choose from.

I saw names I recognized and plenty of color and design options.

I found a great T-shirt for my husband — one I had never seen. And believe it or not, it was made in America.

There were all sorts of choices for children and women, too.

But I will confess that I really wanted one of the bicycles — and felt like there were plenty of people to help me choose the right one. (Can someone tell my husband?)

Down the street were a set of stores that I had seen and thought were interesting but had not yet had the chance to visit.

Carolina Pine is in a word, beautiful. It is full of natural décor arranged in an incredible display by shop owner, Kathy Scanczak. If you appreciate design, this is a place you must see.

I found the most wonderful candles there — and some really fresh and light-scented hand balm.

My sisters-in-law will get one of each.

I could have stood there and smelled all those 1803 Candle choices all afternoon.

Next door is 2^nd Amendment on Main.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked in, but this is a store that is eclectic and interesting.

If you have a man in your life, you will find everything from T-shirts with a bit of spice, men’s grooming products and other items with a masculine flair.

I found Black Rifle Coffee for my coffee connoisseur brother — and a few possibilities for my husband’s birthday later this month.

I felt a certain love of country in that shop — and an appreciation for the men and women who defend her.

I think you will, too.

On a completely different note, I made a stop in The Picket Fence. They had all kinds of gift items, gourmet treats (bread, balsamic vinegars) and a selection of wooden decorations and wrought iron lanterns.

My husband says the shop looks like it should be in a Hallmark Channel movie. I agree.

My brother’s family will get a custom-engraved board for their kitchen (They helped me pick just the right one) and some of the herb-infused olive oil.

I even picked up a gift for myself. You will, too.

I also stopped in two other unique shops.

Cry Freedom Ministries is not just a great place to find a piece of jewelry or an item for the home. Love and light fill this place. Its mission is to help girls and women escape sex trafficking.

The shop helps fund the mission — and the victims, who are now survivors, make some of the items featured there.

Stopping there is a chance to give someone a new life. I will explain that to my niece and her mother as I share the gift I got them there.

Uniquely R’s is just that — unique.

I could have spent hours exploring the nooks and crannies of that place.

Everywhere I turned was something unusual or fun, but with a feel that harkened back to the old days, the good old days.

I love items with stories — and I felt that there.

My other niece will get a butterfly barrette. She’ll love it.

This was one of those places where I got a chance to meet a new friend. What a wonderful family — and an interesting man, David Glisson, who owns the store along with his wife, Ruth, who is responsible for the great stuff in the shop.

I thanked David for his military service — you should, too.

If you have a fashionista on your gift list, you should stop at Mimi’s Boutique.

They had some really pretty and soft sweaters there, as well as pants and accessories to go along with them.

They are stylish without being over the top, so you can find something for just about anyone on your list. Plus, there were knowledgeable salespeople there to help put together the perfect look.

My gift list includes some difficult sizes, so rather than risk picking the wrong one, I took a look at the shop’s gift items instead. That’s where I found some really cute tea towels for Christmas. I got one and my other sister-in-law will get one, too.

It is Mimi’s policy that no matter what you buy, the gift wrap is part of the deal. (I found this to be the case in several downtown stores.) So now, I also have a gift already wrapped, too.

(By the way, in case you are counting, that is TWO gifts for me.)

Around the corner and down a couple doors was the Downtown Fresh Market.

I thought I knew what I would find there, but I was surprised.

Sure, there were veggies and fruits, but owner Chris Neal also had a whole bunch of gourmet items to choose from.

I got my brother’s family a selection of North Carolina products — and myself some frozen cooked collards. They will be on my Christmas menu this year.

What a great place to shop, and I felt like I was supporting the agribusinesses in my state.

This is a cause — and a business — worth supporting. They have big plans and lots of expertise to offer. Stop by and meet them. You will be glad you did.

We should be grateful for all of those families across this county who till the soil so that we can feed our families.

I will never forget Paul Harvey’s famous speech — “So God made a Farmer.”

Look it up. It will help remind you of what so many families sacrifice to put food on our tables.

I went somewhere else where I got the chance to explore the culinary world and to support the farming community.

I collected a whole bunch of unusual treats at Heritage Farms General Store on Arrington Bridge Road.

Known for its exquisite heirloom pork, which I secured for myself, the store also has every sort of delectable goodie representing the best of North Carolina and the South.

I found Holly Grove Farm’s goat cheese — a place I discovered in its early years, before it became the success it is today.

It is a homegrown business that has made it — and just the sort of gourmet treasure you will discover at the General Store.

But as much as I liked the food items, I really wanted to go home with a T-shirt — “Go Pig or Go Home.”

I stopped myself and got some wine instead, but I think I will be back.

Wonderful customer service at this place. Three very sweet young ladies took the time to laugh with me and to make me feel at home.

That is how you welcome in a stranger and make him or her your friend.

And while this is not exactly a local business per se, I want to share another great experience — one many of you probably know all about.

I stopped by our local TJ Maxx this week and was greeted with a cheery, “Hello Baby. How are you? Welcome.”

And when I finished my purchases, I heard “Thank you for coming.”

I will tell you that I saw many a person who rushed in that door pause and smile as they heard Miss Elsie’s greeting.

A kind word like that is infectious — and I did feel welcome and appreciated.

She is a gem — and an example of how we should treat each other.

Thank YOU Miss Elsie.

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I can’t share all of my experiences here. But in the upcoming edition of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce’s membership directory, which the New Old North is creating for 2021, we explore a whole lot more of what is great in the county.

We have picked some highlights — spots to eat, drink, shop and play. It is just a start, but full of great places to explore.

If you get the chance, take a look. You will find out what we found — there is a whole lot to discover in your hometown.

But after my shopping experience this past couple of weeks, I knew I could not wait to share a bit with you.

There is still time to do your holiday shopping in your back yard.

And if you do what I did and take a tour of downtown Goldsboro, you could get a chance to win a $500 downtown shopping spree!

Just get a shopping passport at the DGDC headquarters or one of the stores and visit the businesses on the list. You don’t have to buy anything (although I bet you will). Turn in your completed passport and cross your fingers. Who couldn’t use an extra $500 — especially this year?

The businessowners in this community need your support now more than ever. Please consider doing what I did and picking up a couple gifts for your family this year.

You will make a few new friends — and acknowledge the local businesses that support our community. They are the ones who are the first to donate when there is a need in this county. We should return the favor.

Please share some of your finds. I still have a few names on my list.